Airport Nearing Building Contract

November 2, 1985|By Peter Aronson, Staff Writer

PEMBROKE PINES — North Perry Airport is close to signing an agreement that would allow a private firm to build a $2.8 million multipurpose complex for general aviation, including 52 hangars, a flight school and a fueling area, officials said Friday.

The development, planned for 13 acres on airport grounds, is another step toward allowing the financially troubled airport to become self-sufficient, said Wayne Fuller, the airport manager.

The facility would be the airport`s fifth ``fixed-base operation,`` and the largest.

Tropic Aviation Inc. of Pompano Beach is negotiating to lease the airport property for 25 years with an annual rent of $70,219 for the first five years. The airport, between Pembroke Road and Pines Boulevard just east of University Drive, is operated by the Broward County Aviation Department.

``I am excited about it. I feel it will be a real boost to the airport,`` Fuller said. ``This is a step toward making the airport self-sufficient.``

He said airport lost more than $200,000 between Oct. 1, 1983, and Sept. 30, 1984, and he estimated it lost $50,000 to $60,000 during the same period in 1984-85.

Tropic Aviation`s president, Jim Brettman, said Friday that his firm planned to spend $2.8 million over five years in building the multi-purpose complex. Brettman said $2.3 million will be raised by industrial revenue bonds and another $500,000, if needed, will be contributed by him.

The complex, including a restaurant, will be built on the north side of the airport, just west of Savco Flying. The firm also will lease airplanes and sell flight instruments.

County officials and Brettman said that the 18-month-long negotiations are almost concluded and that they hope to reach an agreement by Dec. 1.

``There are no stumbling blocks left that I am aware of,`` Brettman said.

Brettman said his firm will offer a novel way for North Perry pilots to store their planes. Calling them condominium hangars, Brettman said Tropic Aviation will sell an unspecified number of hangars for the term of its 25-year lease. He said that under a financing package, buying a hangar would be less expensive than renting one.

He explained that buyers would retain ownership for only the length of the contract because all facilities built by Tropic Aviation revert to county ownership after the lease expires. But he said that during the 25 years, owners could resell or lease their hangars while benefiting from tax write- offs.

Airport officials said this is one of many steps the county will take to make North Perry profitable.

Fuller said the airport has already leased 9.5 acres of property on Pines Boulevard for a shopping center. Once a certificate of occupancy is granted by the city, the airport will begin collecting $132,000 annually in rent.

Also, he said, the airport is negotiating with the city to have Pembroke Pines police provide security at the airport instead of the Broward Sheriff`s Office, which now provides security. Fuller said that would save the airport more than $125,000 a year.

Fuller said the additional traffic created by Tropic Aviation will be well within the limits set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

He said that in 1984 there were 187,000 takeoffs and landings at the airport, well below the maximum number of 430,000 allowed by the FAA.

``We certainly have the capability for increased traffic flow,`` he said.